The groups evaluated were CONTROL (n = 12), CCC (Chagas cardiomyopathy, n = 38) and RHD (rheumatic heart disease, n = 17). p values <0.05 were considered statically significant. * p <0.05, ** p <0.005 *** and **** p <0.0001. Plasma soluble cytokine levels were measured using the Bio-Plex ProTM Human Cytokine Standard 27-plex Kit and results are expressed in MFI, as described in Materials and Methods. CCL: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand. CXCL: chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand. G-CSF: Granulocyte colony-stimulation factor. GM-CSF: Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. PDGF: Platelet- derived growth factor. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor. FGF basic: Fibroblast growth factor.